UC Bearcats basketball non-conference schedule revealed

Cincinnati head coach Mick Cronin talks with forward Shaquille Thomas during a game against Louisville in February.(Photo: Enquirer file)

The University of Cincinnati today revealed its men's basketball team's 2014-15 non-conference schedule, which features seven potential games against teams that played in the last NCAA tournament.

Four of those teams will face the Bearcats at Fifth Third Arena: North Carolina Central (Nov. 25), San Diego State (Dec. 17), Virginia Commonwealth (Dec. 20) and Xavier (Feb. 18) in the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout's return to campus sites.

The Bearcats will tune up for the season's start with two exhibition games (Bellarmine Nov. 3 and Fairmont State Nov. 8) before delving into a four-game home stand. Their season opener is Nov. 14 against St. Francis (Penn.), followed by another home game against Morehead State (Nov. 19).

UC will compete in the Emerald Coast Classic Nov. 23-29 and play the first two games of the event at home. Coach Mick Cronin and company will host Eastern Illinois Nov. 23 and North Carolina Central Nov. 25 before traveling to Niceville, Fla. to play Middle Tennessee (Nov. 28 ) and Creighton/Ole Miss (Nov. 29).

Game times and broadcast information for the 13-game non-conference schedule, as well as the American Athletic Conference slate, will be announced at a later date.

UC will play 18 league games, facing eight teams home and away – UCF, Connecticut, East Carolina, Houston, Memphis, SMU, Temple and Tulane – and playing USF only at home and Tulsa only on the road.

"Our summer is going well and our returning players are taking ownership of the program," Cronin said. "We have seven new players to incorporate and are looking forward to this season with great anticipation of what we can become."

UC MEN'S BASKETBALL NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Day Date Opponent Site TV

Mon. Nov. 3 Bellarmine (Exh.) Fifth Third Arena Bearcats TV

Sat. Nov. 8 Fairmont State (Exh.) Fifth Third Arena Bearcats TV

Fri. Nov. 14 St. Francis (Pa.) Fifth Third Arena TBA

Wed. Nov. 19 Morehead State Fifth Third Arena TBA

Sun. Nov. 23 1-Eastern Illinois Fifth Third Arena TBA

Tues. Nov. 25 1-North Carolina Central Fifth Third Arena TBA

Fri. Nov. 28 2-Middle Tennessee Niceville, Fla. TBA

Sat. Nov. 29 2-Creighton or Ole Miss Niceville, Fla. TBA

Tues. Dec. 2 Stony Brook Fifth Third Arena TBA

Sat. Dec. 13 Nebraska Lincoln, Neb. TBA

Wed. Dec. 17 San Diego State Fifth Third Arena TBA

Sat. Dec. 20 VCU Fifth Third Arena TBA

Tues. Dec. 23 Wagner Fifth Third Arena TBA

Tues. Dec. 30 NC State Raleigh, NC TBA

Wed. Feb. 18 3-Xavier Fifth Third Arena ESPN2

Key: 1-Emerald Coast Classic (campus sites)

2-Emerald Coast Classic (The Arena at Northwest Florida State College)